Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Diabetes is a public health crisis that is reaching epidemic proportions globally. Tuesday, March 26 is Diabetes Alert Day. Listed below are just a few important points for individuals with pre-diabetes or diabetes.

What’s your type 2 diabetes risk and why is it important?

Did you know that one in three American adults is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, a serious disease that can lead to complications like kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness, and amputations? There are 8.7 million people undiagnosed, that is 22.8% of the adult population. In addition, there are 97.6 million people aged 18 years and older who have prediabetes, which is 38% of the adult population. Type 2 diabetes does not have to be permanent—it can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes. The first step is learning your risk. Take the simple and anonymous one minute test to determine if you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes at doihaveprediabetes.org.

What puts you at risk or is cause for concern regarding diabetes?

You may have diabetes related health problems if: 

• Your blood pressure is 130-140 over 80, or higher.
• You have blurry, double vision, or feel pain or pressure in your eyes.
• You have foot problems—such as blisters, ingrown toenails, cracked skin, or signs of infection.
• Your arms, hands, legs, or feet feel numb, or you feel shooting pain.

What can I do to stay healthy with diabetes?  

Controlling your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol can make a significant difference in staying healthy. Talk with your doctor about what your ABC goals should be and how to reach them. 

A – A1C test—a measure of what your blood glucose has been for the last three months. 

B – blood pressure

C – is for cholesterol.

You can take these steps each day to reach your ABC goals:

• Follow the healthy eating plan that you and your doctor or dietitian have discussed.
• Be physically active for 30 to 60 minutes most days. Small, 5–10-minute bouts are proven effective.
• Take your medicines as directed and keep taking them, even after you’ve reached your goals.
• If you smoke, get help to quit. (1-800-QUIT NOW or 1-800-784-8669)
• Ask your doctor if you should take aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke.
• Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, sores swelling, redness, or sore toenails.

You can call the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse at 1–800–860–8747 for more information. More locally, you can contact Amy Williams, MS, RD, LD, CDCES, MLDE, at the Clark County Health Department. Healthy Living with Diabetes classes, a four-part series, will be held on Thursdays, April 18, 25, May 2, and May 9 at 5:15 pm, 273 Shoppers Drive. Registration is required. We also have options for the Diabetes Prevention Program classes for in person and online. 

Clark County Health Department provides programs for the entire family, including Freedom from Smoking, WIC, HANDS, family planning, and well-child care/immunizations. For more information on all of our services, please call 859-744-4482 or visit our website at www.cchd.org. You can also “like” us on Facebook.